Animal Care Manager

Socket.dev; Georgia; On-site; USD 48,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

LifeLine Animal Project is seeking an Animal Care Manager in Atlanta, GA to lead the animal care team and ensure humane treatment for all shelter animals. The role emphasizes strong leadership, SOP adherence, and collaboration across departments to promote animal welfare and community impact.

The manager will supervise intake staff, coordinate with veterinary partners, manage training and performance, and maintain safe, clean, and well-organized animal areas and workflows.

Qualifications

• Compassion for animals and the people who love and care for them.
• Ability to supervise staff and ensure humane treatment.
• Strong leadership and communication abilities.
• Knowledge of animal welfare programs and SOPs.
• Ability to stand long shifts and handle animals safely.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the physical wellbeing, cleaning, exercise, medical needs and daily emotional enrichment of animals.
• Ensures humane animal handling according to established safety policies and procedures.
• Oversees the operation of the Play Group program.
• Works with the Clinic Manager to initiate medical exams for shelter animals.
• Develops training protocols and oversees staff training.
• Work within budget guidelines when ordering supplies and hiring staff.
• Manage inventory including ordering, receiving and distribution.
• Coordinate disease control and sanitation protocols with veterinarians.

Skills

Leadership

Animal welfare

Team supervision

Safety compliance

Euthanasia procedures

Interdepartmental collaboration

Communication skills

Budgeting

Training and development

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Position: Animal Care Manager

Department: Animal Care

Reports To: Senior Director of Operations

Location: 1251 Fulton Industrial Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30336

Summary:

LifeLine Animal Project is committed to the care and welfare of pets and the people who love them. The values we exhibit as an organization show the strength of our staff, our leadership and our community. We expect all employees to exhibit LifeLine’s core values as we complete daily tasks, provide services to clients and care for our animals.

The Animal Care Manager is responsible for ensuring the humane treatment of animals in our care

and supervising the intake and animal care staff. The Animal Care Manager will facilitate

collaboration among departments and maintain adherence to Standard Operating Procedures

(SOPs) to promote the welfare of all animals in our care. This role requires strong leadership skills, a

passion for animal welfare, and the ability to manage a team effectively.

Essential Job Functions:

This represents a list of essential job duties. Other duties or special projects may be assigned as needed.

• Uphold the standards and values of LifeLine Animal Project:

Save Lives -- Build Community -- Be Exceptional Stewards -- Be Courageous --

Be Compassionate -- Take Responsibility -- Respect, Embrace and Celebrate Diversity

• Oversees the physical wellbeing, cleaning, exercise, medical needs and daily emotional

enrichment of animals.

• Ensures humane animal handling according to established safety policies and procedures.
• Oversees the operation of the Play Group program.
• Works in cooperation with the Clinic Manager to initiate medical exams for shelter animals.
• Ensure team provides excellent assistance to customers by exhibiting respect, and celebrating the diversityof those who are interested in adopting an animal, looking for their lost pet, or bringing an animal to the shelter for housing.
• Exhibit exceptional stewardship by supporting the cleanliness and organization of the shelter’s walkways, animal areas, and work areas and ensure equipment is properly maintained and operational.
• Participate in hiring and overseeing training of animal care and intake staff and

develop and implement training protocols.

• Work within budget guidelines when ordering supplies and hiring staff.
• Manages supply inventory to include ordering, receiving and distribution.
• Work with veterinarian(s) to develop and implement disease control, animal health and

sanitation protocols.

• Take responsibility to conduct department meetings to ensure all staff are up-to-date on shelter and LifeLine information, announcements, and changes.
• Coordinate shelter maintenance problems with appropriate County personnel.
• Perform and supervise euthanasia to ensure proper humane techniques are being
• followed.
• Properly maintain drug logs.
• Produce reports and make presentations to other departments, LifeLine locations, or other
• groups as needed.
• Monitor and evaluate job performance of animal care and intake staff.
• Coordinate performance evaluation and discipline actions for the animal care staff.
• Explain and interpret a vast array of information and verify that staff comprehends instructions given whether written or verbal.
• Be able to look at situations from the perspective of another.
• Make decisions and take appropriate actions calmly in emergency and life threatening situations.
• Determine when emergency medical care is needed and administer basic first aid when needed.
• Courageously lead by example, modeling proper animal handling techniques, safety protocols, and compassionate care.
• Maintain a good working relationship with Animal Enforcement.
• Develop and manage programs to further LifeLine’s mission to save lives.
• Promote a positive team culture based on LifeLine’s Core Values.
• In conjunction with the Volunteer Services Director, oversee and support the volunteers who aid the animal care teams.
• Work closely with the Client Services and Volunteer Director in addressing client/volunteer concerns and facilitating resolutions.
• Help strengthen and build a community of animal welfare advocates by supporting and engaging the volunteers who aid the animal care teams.
• Collaborates with other departments to accomplish departmental and organizational

goals.

• Continue education by participating in LifeLine’s 40-hour annual training requirement.
• Attend managerial meetings and events as needed.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

• Compassion for animals and the people who love and care for them.
• Ability to serve the public and fellow employees with honesty and integrity.
• Advanced knowledge of animal behavior, habits, and husbandry.
• Advanced animal handling skills for large and small animals.
• Considerable knowledge of animal welfare programs.
• Ability to prepare and maintain routine work records and reports.
• Proven ability to effectively supervise the work of assigned subordinates.
• Certified in humane euthanasia.
• Ability to stand for extended periods (up to 12 hours a day) and to bend and reach to perform assigned work activities.
• Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. without assistance.
• Ability to communicate, understand and follow a variety of oral and written instructions/procedures.
• Must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Comfortable working with dogs and cats of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments.
• Basic animal medical and behavior knowledge (preferred)
• Ability to follow safety protocols and handle challenging situations with calmness and professionalism.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multiple departments to ensure efficient shelter operations.
• Ability to interact with impounded dogs, cats and other animals including vicious, stray, sick or injured animals.
• Ability to handle seeing and dealing with animals that have been abused, neglected or treated cruelly.
• Ability to cope with the emotional impact of possible euthanasia cases.
• Must be able to work weekends, holidays, and varying shifts based on shelter needs.
• Must have a means of travel that ensures prompt arrival for work shifts.
• Must be able to pass a background check.

Education and/or Experience:

Minimum of high school diploma or equivalent.

Two or more years of leadership experience.

A minimum of 1 year experience in shelter or kennel management in an animal shelter that impounds a minimum of 4000 animals a year is required.

Two or more years’ experience in animal related field, animal sheltering, or animal care preferred.

Fear Free Sheltering Preferred.

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, employee may be exposed to unpleasant kennel smells. May have to handle dogs and cats that are stray, injured, diseased or vicious.